OCPM was founded by Fr. Duane Pederson in 1991 as a ministry of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. In 2005, OCPM was chartered by SCOBA as its official prison ministry. Through 2009, OCPM has ministered to over 700 prisoners and former prisoners, many of whom have converted to the Orthodox Church. At present, it is working with over 250 Orthodox catechumens in American prisons, as well as over 300 homeless or needy former prisoners, as well as the spouses and children of current prisoners. Approximately 275 prisoners per year participate in Orthodox study courses through the St. Athanasius Academy. Through the work of OCPM, five men have been tonsured Orthodox monks in prison, and several prisoners have become iconographers. In addition, OCPM has published eight books.